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Atlantic Power Corporation Stock Upgraded (AT)

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model

NEW YORK (
TheStreet)
-- Atlantic Power Corporation (NYSE:
AT) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from sell to hold. Among the primary strengths of the company is its robust revenue growth -- not just in the most recent periods but in previous quarters as well. At the same time, however, we also find weaknesses including feeble growth in the company's earnings per share, deteriorating net income and generally higher debt management risk.

AT's very impressive revenue growth greatly exceeded the industry average of 6.5%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues leaped by 191.5%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share.

The share price of ATLANTIC POWER CORP has not done very well: it is down 8.41% and has underperformed the S&P 500, in part reflecting the company's sharply declining earnings per share when compared to the year-earlier quarter. Turning toward the future, the fact that the stock has come down in price over the past year should not necessarily be interpreted as a negative; it could be one of the factors that may help make the stock attractive down the road. Right now, however, we believe that it is too soon to buy.

Return on equity has greatly decreased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of major weakness within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders industry and the overall market, ATLANTIC POWER CORP's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

The gross profit margin for ATLANTIC POWER CORP is currently lower than what is desirable, coming in at 34.60%. It has decreased significantly from the same period last year. Along with this, the net profit margin of -3.30% trails that of the industry average.

Atlantic Power Corporation operates as a power generation and infrastructure company with a portfolio of assets in the United States and Canada. Atlantic has a market cap of $1.71 billion and is part of the
utilities sector and
utilities industry. Shares are up 0.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model